Trusting relationships are key to creating equitable, inclusive learning environments. In my classes, we build community in small moments, like starting class by sharing with a peer something we’re grateful for today, and in ongoing conversations, like working with consistent small groups over the semester to dig deeper into course content.

I design in-class activities and assignments that give students opportunities to make meaningful connections to course content. For example, students in one class wrote Minute Journals after each lecture in which they chose a key idea and explained how it could be applied to their current life or future career.

One marker of successful teaching is if students walk away with increased curiosity and motivation to continue learning.  I invite students to practice asking questions that extend the course content, and I help them build skills to critically evaluate possible answers those questions.